Archive for February, 2010

Slow Down Baby

It’s a snowy day in New York, and I was just thinking it’s a perfect time to remember to slow down. When I looked out onto the streets today, I noticed everyone was walking and driving a little slower thanks to a steady stream of falling snowflakes. Inside my apartment, I was moving a little slower too, but maybe that’s due to the lack of sunshine coming through the windows in my home office.

So to honor my slow mood, I opened up Carl Honoré’s book In Praise of Slowness on my lunch break and re-read the chapter on “Food: Turning the Tables on Speed.” Like the rest of the book, the food chapter is all about slowing down. It’s also about appreciating your food, taking the time to prepare meals at home, and sitting down at a table to eat  (rather than scarfing them down in your car, in front of the refrigerator, or over your computer keyboard).

I really appreciate Honoré’s message, because I constantly have to remind myself to slow down. Can you relate? I’ve always been a packed schedule, multi-tasking kind of girl, but these days I understand there are major benefits to slowing down a little…especially when it comes to food.

For starters, it’s much easier to avoid overeating when you’re taking the time to chew each bite and take deep breaths in between.  For many of us, eating fast is something we do by force of habit. Honoré says, “our reflex is to throw a ready-made meal in the microwave or call out for Thai food. But sometimes a reflex is just that: a reflex.”

Sitting at a table (by yourself or with family and friends) to eat your meals at “a gentle pace” can be life-changing. If you take the time to turn off the television and focus on the food in front of you, you end up tasting the food more and enjoying each bite. If you’re sitting down to eat with other people more often, its likely that those relationships will improve, thanks to more communication and quality time.

Let me know if this strikes a chord with you, and leave a comment.  I’d love to hear your thoughts on slowing down and any positive results you’ve noticed when you do.

All the best,

Laurel

Slow Down Baby is a post from: Laurel On Health Food

Rice Pasta with Sweet & Sour Vegetables

Cook pasta 2 minutes per package directions. Remove, drain, rinse and set aside. Bring 2 cup water to a boil and separately blanch the broccoli, cauliflower and carrots 2 minutes each. Rinse each under cold water and set aside. Reserve cooking water. Heat oil in a skillet and saute onions for 2 to 3 minutes. Add celery and red peppers and saute another 2 minutes. Add the reserve vegetable cooking water and bring to a boil. Add the dissolved kuzu, stirring constantly until thick. Reduce the flame to low and add the sorghum, vinegar and shoyu. Place equal servings of pasta in each bowl. Ladle the vegetables and sauce over. Serve garnished with scallions and sesame seeds.

Multi-Grain Waffles with Sweet Sorghum

Place the rye and kamut flakes in a blender or food processor and grind for 1 to 2 minutes until a coarse flour. Remove and place in a mixing bowl. Add the millet to the blender and grind about 4 to 5 minutes until flour. Add millet flour, unbleached white flour, sea salt and baking powder to the mixing bowl and mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl combine the oil, vinegar and Edensoy. Mix and let sit for 3 to 4 minutes. It will become thick like buttermilk. Add soy buttermilk to the dry ingredients and blend well. Heat a waffle iron and lightly oil. When hot reduce the temperature setting to low (1 -3) add a ladle of batter in the waffle section, close the cover and cook until done, about 2 to 3 minutes or until the cover lifts without sticking. Remove the waffle and repeat. Makes 8 six inch round waffles

Biscuits with Sweet Sorghum

Preheat oven to 350°. Combine flour, salt and baking powder in a mixing bowl. Add the olive oil. Using your hands sift the flour and oil between your hands to thoroughly blend. Add the Edensoy and mix with a spoon. Roll the dough out onto a floured surface until 1/2" thick. Cut the biscuits into 2" to 2 1/2" rounds and place on a lightly oiled cookie sheet. Bake for 20 minutes or until slightly golden. Heat the sorghum in a small saucepan on very low. When the biscuits are done remove, slice and lightly drizzle with sweet sorghum. Yields: 8 biscuits

Baked Squash with Sorghum, Walnuts & Cranberries

Preheat oven to 350°. Cut the squash in half and remove seeds. Lightly oil the skin of the squash and place on an oiled baking pan. Bake 45 to 50 minutes until tender. Remove from the oven. Sprinkle an even amount of walnuts and cranberries in the hollowed out portion of the squash were the seeds were. Drizzle 1 to 2 tablespoons of sorghum over each squash and serve.

Jamie Oliver Makes a Wish

TED.com just posted Jamie Oliver’s TED Prize Wish video: Teach every child about food. It’s an incredibly inspiring and passionate talk, and I recommend that everyone watch it.

Here’s the summary: “Sharing powerful stories from his anti-obesity project in Huntington, W. Va., TED Prize winner Jamie Oliver makes the case for an all-out assault on our ignorance of food.” Jamie’s wish is

Jamie Oliver Makes a Wish is a post from: Laurel On Health Food

February Newsletter!

I just released my February Newsletter for Laurel Health Counseling (click on the picture below to view it). This month I offered some tips on adding probiotics to your diet and eating protein-rich beans for energy and endurance. Plus, there’s an Easy Beans and Greens recipe for you to try out. Hoping you enjoy it!

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Happy Friday,
Laurel Moll, H.C., AADP
www.laurelmoll.com

February Newsletter! is a post from: Laurel On Health Food

Power Supplement: Resveratrol

I’ve been hearing more and more about resveratrol over the past couple of years. It’s a powerful antioxidant compound found naturally in foods like grapes, cranberries, blueberries, peanuts, and wine. It’s also found naturally in a Chinese herb called Hu zhang and a Japanese plant called knotweed. According to Natural News, Hu zhang is actually the richest source of resveratrol on the planet!

Recent research found that resveratrol can help the body fight off cancer and heart disease, reduce inflammation, prevent weight gain, expand longevity (anti-aging), boost energy, and even improve athletic endurance. In addition, there’s preliminary research that says resveratrol reduces menopausal symptoms in women. Resveratrol has received support from big names like Dr. Andrew Weil and Dr. Mehmet Oz. Fitness Magazine even featured a lengthy article on resveratrol in their February issue.

Resveratrol supplements are certainly popular these days. The Fitness article said it’s one of the top five supplements sold at Vitamin Shoppe. The Nutrition Business Journal estimates that sales of resveratrol supplements are over $30 million a year. A growing number of people are taking them to improve endurance and extend longevity. The research shows that resveratrol may “activate enzymes that help muscles use oxygen more efficiently.”

Unfortunately, resveratrol research has been mostly contained to laboratories at this point. There’s only been a few human trials (though they had successful results), but I’m sure more are underway.  I’m always a proponent of trying to get the majority of your daily nutrients, minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, etc. from whole food sources. But resveratrol supplements could be a powerful addition to your healthy diet.

Fitness Mag recommended supplements with trans-resveratrol in the ingredient list (it’s the naturally-occurring form of the compound). Avoid supplements that say “complex”, “formula”, or “blend” on the label because you could only be getting a small amount of the good stuff. A few quality brands to look out for are: Longevinex, Swanson, and Biotivia. (Ftiness Mag, Feb. 2010, p. 114).

Power Supplement: Resveratrol is a post from: Laurel On Health Food

“Let’s Move” Campaign

The new website for Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move” campaign is now live. The campaign aims to “support parents, provide healthier food in schools, help our kids to be more physically active, and make healthy, affordable food available in every part of our country.”

I thought the LOHF readers would like to see this short video on Let’s Move. According to the website, there will be lots of new content added over the next few months. This Spring, the campaign team plans to add “specialized tool kits and strategies” to help Americans have more access to food that’s healthy AND affordable.

I’m looking forward to hearing more from the Let’s Move campaign, and I’m really happy to see a national spotlight on improving health with nutrition and physical activity.

“Let’s Move” Campaign is a post from: Laurel On Health Food

My Healthy Valentine

No matter what your relationship status this Valentine’s Day, you can enjoy some of these healthy yet delicious treats and gift ideas. I came up with a list of my favorite romantic treats for you to enjoy on your own or to give as a present to your Valentine. I promise, all of this stuff tastes better than those boxed chocolate-covered cherries you’ll find in the drug store Valentine’s section. Seriously! I hope you indulge in at least one of these healthy treats! I know I will.

1. Raw Chocolate Bars from Gnosis Chocolate. These chocolate bars are delicious, divine, and decadent. I get major cravings for them on a pretty regular basis. Luckily, they’re only a monetary indulgence and not something that sacrifices my health. On the contrary, Gnosis Chocolate bars are extremely good for you because they are made from all natural raw chocolate, superfoods, and herbs. They’re organic, vegan, kosher, and free of dairy and refined sugars. Look out for their special Valentine’s inspired Passion Collection to launch over the next couple of days. I’m all over that Aphrodisia Bar. Plus, check out my blog post reviewing Gnosis Chocolate here.
2. Organic red wine. Most wine stores and even some regular grocery stores are now regularly carrying organic wines. When you buy organic, it means you’ll be enjoying the pure grapes without pesticides. If you don’t know of a local wine store, try out the wine section at your nearest Whole Foods or health food store. You can also buy online at The Organic Wine Company. Can’t decide on one bottle? Pick up a couple and do your own romantic wine tasting.
3. Dessert tray (no utensils needed). Grab a big plate and arrange some fresh fruit to share with your honey in bed or enjoy on your own while you watch a good movie. My favorite fruits to use in this occasion are bananas, pineapple, grapes, strawberries, and raspberries. Cut up into bite-sized pieces ahead of time, and have the tray ready to go when you’re feeling romantic. Serve with champagne and chocolate if you’re feeling extra fancy.
4. Bespoke Chocolates’ Special Treats for February. Bespoke made special chocolates for February including the Pomegranate Lemon Dark Chocolate Hearts and Chili Pepper Dark Chocolate Truffles. I am just drooling at the sight of them! This company is based in NY, but if you’re out of state you can order a box of 9-24 chocolates and have them shipped to you. Don’t delay! Their dark chocolate is high in cocoa content (70% for the truffles).
5. Poached Pears in Pomegranate Sauce. Want to make something special at home? Try this Cookus Interrputus dessert recipe using all natural, whole foods. It has three of my favorite healthy ingredients: pears, honey, and pomegranate juice. Make sure to watch the helpful how-to video! That is one beautiful, sexy-looking dessert!

All the best,
Laurel Moll, H.C., AADP
www.laurelmoll.com

My Healthy Valentine is a post from: Laurel On Health Food